Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1887-02-24
From our Regular correspondent
Washington Letter.

Money for national defense, money for
new navy. the trade dollar question, the
Eads ship railway. the backward appro-
pration bills, the educational bill, and the
anti-polygamy bill are some of the subjects
to which our law makers have given atten-
tion during the week
The agitation in all sections of the coun-
try of the subject of immediate provision
| for national defense has had its effect up
on both Houses of Congress. Senate com
at the same time deviSing ways and means
for the increase of the Navy and coast de
fcnses, and they ran a race Of diligence to
get in first with their important measures
the question of cruisers. gunboats, forts
and all sorts of defense.
There has been Il vast amount of talk
over the Presidents veto of the Disability
Pension bin. This matter presents re
markahlc spectacle to the country. and en-
phasizcs the fact that the ways Of the
present Administration are past finding
out. \ Democratic President vctocs a
congress to reduce war taxes, and Dem
ocratc speaker Of the House of Rcprcsen-
tatiycS uses his power to gag Congress 10
prevent the removal Of the war tax on
tobacco.
When Capt. Ead~ great ship railway
scheme came up in the Senate il was adyo-
Gated by senator Hoar A. one of the most
important steps that the American people
had taken for generation. 1t would give
them control OF the markets of the world.
After skctchng the course Of commerce in
the past and in the present he said 1t would
hereafter seek direct paths. There were
two routes eastward and westward. One
through the Mediterranean sea had cut
Asia anu -'.Itea al IVAN. ne "thet moi
vet OPEN was to divide the American con
tnent at Tchuantepcc.
The senator thought If Congress would
cooperate with the great American inven-
tor and engineer in hi~ plan for this pur
pose. it would 90 far towards securing fu
ture commercial supremacy for the United
States. 1t is not the proposition Of an
adyenturer" said he. Capt. Ead> stakes
upon it fame gained by two Of the
greatest engineering feats Of the
age"
Senator Gibson favored all attempts to
pierce the isthmus, and would even ap-
al . h.. .tit pf h,.y
successful in opening the Panama canal,
and efiacing the barrier Of the chain Of he
Cordillcras He was disposed to favor any
engineering scheme that was backed by
the name Of EadS. And then he said the
proposed route would be a continuation
Of the Mississippi river in nearly direct
line across the isthmus. The opening of the
Nicaragua route would invite an issue with
France. England and Spain on the Monroe
doctrine
The Blair educational bill has been sup
pressed i'll committee by the distinguished
leaders OF the Democratic party, Messrs.
Carlisle Randall and Morrison. The Repub-
lican members of the committee, MessrS.
Reed and Hiscock, need one vote To enable
them to report the measure back to the
House. A recent canvass Of that body
satisfied the member who made 1t that the
bill would command the support Of two
thirds of the members If il could be pre-
sented to them for action.
The people of Washington are waiting
impatiently for Congress to take action
upon several propositions. They all want
Inauguration day changed from the fourth
Of March TO the thirtieth Of April. They
want an appropriation for running the ele-
vator in the Washington monument, and
| they want the grand memorial bridge that
is to span the Potomac as a monument to
General Grant
There is a fair prospect for the next
President to be inaugurated on the last
Tuesday in April, 1889 This day in the
centennial year comes on the day on which
Washington was inaugurated in 1890.
Consequently there can be no sentimental
grounds for objection to the change. And
the reasons of it are obvious. 1t will add
nearly two months to the short sessions of
Congress, and it will bring the inaugural
ceremonies in the most delightful season
of the year The people of the whole
country would welcome it in the interest
of convenience to the large numbers who
flock here to the inaugurations.